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Topic Review (Newest First)

02-20-2014 09:09 PM

JackandMattie

One thing I've noticed that has not been addressed in this thread... Is your dog's pedigree. That can give us some good idea of whether you are actually facing aggression, or merely reaction. I mean, a reactive bite hurts just as much, but requires a completely different approach.

Share with us, how did you acquire this dog? Not so we can judge, because I've been on this forum for a while, and though some do judge, the majority will take the dog's heritage as a fact and give great advice for your particular animal. Too often, dogs get labelled as aggressive, when in fact they are only fearful/reactive and the best approach is 180 degrees separate when that's the fact.

Well, I messed up my reply and it all looks like a quote, but I think you can probably sort through it. Aargh.

Gonna message my friend, Indupreet, in Dubai, now, and see whether she has a lead for you.

She might be the only woman in Dubai who owns three distinct breeds, feeds them all on a raw diet, and has them all impeccably trained . Idk, but I do know she has a huge heart, because she was the only girl in eighth grade who was crazy ready to befriend the scraredy-cat little US southerner with an unintelligible drawl way back when . And unlike myself, who returned to the US for high school, she finished high school and uni in the Middle East. And she is highly social. I hope she can help you!

Thanks JackandMattie. Yes, we have shared common space. It is a big big private compound, but it is staff housing, owned by the hospital I work for. Everything here is guarded by the administrative policies and procedures (APP). I'm in shared accommodation, 2 in a flat. Going by the books, I'm not allowed to have pets but the management has allowed me for now cos my flatmate doesn't mind. Any complains or mishap and they can tell me to remove him.

I don't think its feasible to get him to Bahrain for training as the a one-way car trip would take apprx 4 hours, which mean I can only do so in the weekend. But then there is the paperwork, the guards, the language barrier, and unscrupulous official who might try to steal my dog. I've had local friends telling me that they had tried to getting supplements through customs and officers telling them its not allowed, meanwhile they kept it for themselves. Friend brought 3 bottles of whey protein powder for example, guard told him they'll keep 2 for testing!! The guard at our compound, one time tried telling in arabic, that my dog is not allowed inside anymore, and that I should put him in his car. He was telling me in a stern manner, so I reacted angrily and told him in my broken arabic that its allowed!! Then his colleague tried to diffuse the situation by making as a joke. But i know it wasn't a joke. He was trying to see if he can scare me into it.

I don't know how handfeeding works, but I did it last night anyway after reading somewhere online. With every handful, I told him to "look at me". We did it for about 5 minutes and I let him take a break by just feeding him with my hand. Then repeated again. Hope I'm doing it right. I don't want him to loathe feeding time, which he already started whining about it previously as I was teaching him to roll-over during feeding time. Lol..

I'm trying to teach him focus by saying "look at me" when we're out, using treats but he seems to be distracted by every single leaf that moves.

There is no where else to go. We live in apartments, once down and its shared common space between residents and stray dogs & cats. I actually bring him to the tennis courts to exhaust him.The only choice would be to buy a treadmill and make him run at home!

Today I didn't even dare go out in the dark (5am), so we played tug-of-war at home, fetch, catching, focus training, till daylight (6.30am) before I let him out to eliminate... Then rush off to work by 7.30am!

Keep up the focus training. Do not give the dog a break!! The dog wants Nothing more than to Please YOU! Recognize that, and give the satisfaction of demanding it he is not a human. He is a "working dog!" Make him work, and you will make him Happy!! I promise

Ah, the girder crossing is too much. I should have known. Even when we were making those crossings, the Bahraini border officials were tough tough and took whatever they wanted. Doh!

How about finding someone who can travel from Bahrain to Saudi to help you out. As others have suggested. MPs who get bored. They get time off, and probably not enough to return to the US every break. They would probably welcome the opportunity to hang out and work with your dog and since they are traveling alone on a day visit, it's a much easier border crossing.

I have a fiend who was my BFF at the Bahrain international school way back when. She lives in Dubai now, but doubtless still has some local contacts. And she has three dogs of her own and will no doubt help if she can! Gonna go check for your PM, but don't give up hope. There is a trainer for you, and we will find that person!

Leerburg is a good site, pretty sure he addresses your issue somewhere? Ask on here if you see something you think might work.

Your job is to protect you dog it should be a partnership. Right now your dog is protecting himself and you. And he see's you getting in the way?

Not a dog for unskilled to slap a prong collar on! Don't know if that crossed your mind or not so that's just a shot across the bow.

Search on here for "Two week shutdown" just start over and try and build anew relationship with him. Then loose leash training after that, just a couple of ideas th you can do and shouldn't be harmful!

02-14-2014 02:00 AM

lindadrusilla

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chip18

Well it sounds like your between a rock and a hard place you muzzle the dog and he can't protect himself, if he's coming up the leash that's bad news!

Out of my realm of experience! Only thing I can tell you Captain Obvious here, sorry, your dog is telling you he has an issue your job is to figure out what that issue is.

More like between a rock & a crazy place! Lol

Anyway, i'm still trying to figure out what is/are his issue(s); besides stray dogs, he also dislikes cyclists and children or any stranger that appear suddenly out of nowhere, but to a lesser extent. He might growl but doesnt always chase.

I had also gotten in touch with a professional dog trainer/ behavior specialist in Georgia that a fellow forum user here had kindly referred me to. She has agreed to help, and will advise me through skype and emails.

I hope we can really work something out!

We still hadn't returned to the tennis courts, and I dont dare to bring him jogging either.. It seems there is an increase in the number of stray dogs again. Saw 2 packs in a barking match last night.

02-13-2014 09:45 PM

Chip18

Well it sounds like your between a rock and a hard place you muzzle the dog and he can't protect himself, if he's coming up the leash that's bad news!

Out of my realm of experience! Only thing I can tell you Captain Obvious here, sorry, your dog is telling you he has an issue your job is to figure out what that issue is.

02-12-2014 04:21 PM

lindadrusilla

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blanketback

My question might sound stupid, but only because I have no clue at all what it's like to live there: can you carry a small whip or walking stick to shoo the strays away from you? IME, if you can force other dogs to respect your own dog's personal space, it's easier to keep yours calm. It's a small step, but it might be significant.

I do carry a stick at times, or a water gun. End up they just get bitten by my dog instead.

Tonight I put him on a muzzle before heading for our last walk at about 11pm (i was late due to volleyball practice), only bcos few people are around to see him in it. Nearly had another encounter with the same stray from tennis courts. But I spotted it first, my heart was pumping really fast but i tried to steady my hold on the leash & led him to another path, gradually increased my pace & headed to our building without mishap! I kept my tone happy and normal talking to him all the time. Phew! Mini heart attack..

02-12-2014 12:45 PM

TinkerinWstuff

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindadrusilla

Where is Khobar Towers? I'm assuming in Al khobar?

I dont know of any Khobar Towers here in Riyadh. I'm far from Al khobar, 3 hours drive. Its almost to Bahrain.

I asked my bf who is a saudi and i asked the taxi driver and they dont know either..

Google Khobar Towers. Details on the location and the bombing will come up. Side bar; I lived in that building less than a year before it was attacked. I remember being allowed to go into the city and there being heavily armed police patrolling the mall from the third floor balcony, camels tied down in the backs of compact Toyota pickups, and Cadillacs abandoned in sand dunes along the highway. I totally hear what you're saying with regards to concerns about public perception from the community.

02-12-2014 11:59 AM

Blanketback

My question might sound stupid, but only because I have no clue at all what it's like to live there: can you carry a small whip or walking stick to shoo the strays away from you? IME, if you can force other dogs to respect your own dog's personal space, it's easier to keep yours calm. It's a small step, but it might be significant.

02-12-2014 10:16 AM

lindadrusilla

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinkerinWstuff

Are you near Khobar Towers? Maybe you can get in touch with an experienced GSD handling MP? I'm assuming we still have folks stationed there and I know when I was there, we were bored as ****.

It really is a different world out there when you step foot outside the borders of the USA. Good Luck!

Where is Khobar Towers? I'm assuming in Al khobar?

I dont know of any Khobar Towers here in Riyadh. I'm far from Al khobar, 3 hours drive. Its almost to Bahrain.

I asked my bf who is a saudi and i asked the taxi driver and they dont know either..

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